Category Archives: AFib
The One-Two Punch of Potentially Curing Afib and Reducing Stroke Risk
As we’ve discussed elsewhere on this website, atrial fibrillation or afib represents the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the United States and worldwide. This has genuinely become a national medical concern, with an estimated 5 million American adults suffering from the condition. However, you may also remember that it is not the irregular heartbeat itself that we’re most concerned about. Instead, this irregular heartbeat may cause blood to pool in the heart’s left atrial appendage. This increases the risk of stroke and heart attack by up to five times. You can learn more about stroke risk in Afib patients here.
While many patients begin their Afib treatment journey with antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant medication, those no longer finding the medication effective or who cannot tolerate the drugs have several potential curative options.
Wearable Tech – Useful Diagnostics or A Detriment?
With the advent of the latest generations of Apple Watch, wearable technology has taken a huge leap forward. Until the past few years, wearables, especially in the form of a portable EKG was not only extremely expensive but was only available from your cardiologist or medical team. On the surface, it seems as though these new technologies can only add to our health picture; however, it is important that we delve deeper into the issue to understand whether wearables are truly useful or if they make our lives more complicated.
Can Afib Ablations Be Performed More Than Once?
Cardiac catheter ablation is one of the most powerful tools in an electrophysiologist’s armament of tools. But to understand the potential outcomes after an ablation, we need to explore what exactly and ablation entails.
Cardiac catheter ablation involves the threading of a long, thin catheter from a small incision in the groin into the heart. The tip of the catheter has a mapping system that shows the Electrophysiologist the structures of the heart and the electrical patterns and signals emanating from the heart. This mapping system can accurately detect any abnormal heart rhythms, also known as arrhythmias. The cardiac catheter ablation procedure is relatively straightforward and very safe. However, as with any medical procedure, results vary between patients and there may be the possibility of having a second catheter ablation if the first does not completely resolve the arrhythmia issue.
At Home Heart Monitoring
When patients come into our office complaining of a fast-beating heart, unexplained fainting or other issues related to the heartbeat, we immediately turn our minds to the concept of an arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. It is estimated that over 5 million Americans are living with a Afib or atrial fibrillation which is the most prevalent arrhythmia in the world. Many more may be suffering from other rhythm issues.
Blood Thinners vs LAA Closure vs Catheter Ablation for AFib
Patients experiencing atrial fibrillation or AFib are at a five times higher risk of stroke than those who do not have the condition. As a result, it is critical to get an early diagnosis and follow a comprehensive treatment plan. However, it is also important to understand the various treatment options to make the very best decision for each patient’s circumstance.
